Wilmington, N.C., November 3, 2015: On November 11-15, the 21st Annual Cucalorus Film Festival returns to Wilmington, North Carolina to celebrate the art of filmmaking. Over the past two decades the independent film festival has grown and evolved to keep pace with an ever-changing industry. This year the nationally recognized festival will introduce a new event that celebrates technology, entrepreneurship and opportunity: the Cucalorus CONNECT Conference.

With the inaugural Cucalorus CONNECT Conference, the annual film festival will dive into the world of venture capital and business, addressing topics that extend beyond filmmaking to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship across many industries, from technology to textiles and brewing. CONNECT sessions join a full schedule of 260 independent film screenings and events that include panels with morning keynotes, workshops, and social gatherings. 

Cucalorus fosters a relaxed, retreat-like atmosphere, creating an ideal environment for new ideas, friendships and collaborations that extend far beyond the festival's five-day celebration. With programs that focus on dance, music videos, emerging artists, social justice, it's no wonder that Cucalorus has named “one of the coolest film festivals in the world” by MovieMaker Magazine. It also makes a repeat appearance on the Southeast Tourism Society's “Top 20 Events” list for the month of November 2105.

Cucalorus delivers a diverse mix of documentary and narrative feature films, shorts, dance and music videos, alongside special events that make it a favorite with filmmakers and audiences. Of the 260-plus films (chosen from more than 1,700 entries) from over 60 countries, the festival will include 38 narrative features, 20 documentary features, 170 shorts, 37 music videos and five works-in-progress, along with a schedule that includes multi-disciplinary performances ranging from dance to spoken word and beyond. Guest filmmakers will share insights during Q&A sessions at select screenings.

Noteworthy Films

Award-winning and noteworthy films screening at Cucalorus 21 include: “The Devilʼs Candy” (Dir. Sean Byrne) and the U.S. premieres of “Tag” (Dir. Sion Sono), “Lace Crater” (Dir. Harrison Atkins), and “He Hated Pigeons” (Dir. Ingrid Veninger, a festival alumni and ambassador). Notable narrative features include: the outrageously bizarre “Men & Chicken” (Dir. Anders Thomas Jensen), “A Light Beneath Their Feet” (Dir. Valerie Weiss), Henry Gambleʼs “Birthday Party” (Dir. Stephen Cone), and “The Missing Girl” (Dir. A.D.Calvo). Cucalorus will also host the Southeast U.S. Premiere of “Booger Red” (Dir. Berndt Mader) with an engaging performance by former Wilmingtonian Onur Tukel, whose film “Applesauce” also screens at the festival.

North Carolina Connections

Each year Cucalorus pays tribute to its North Carolina roots by screening at least 25% of films with connections to its home state. N.C. Narrative Features include: “Well Wishes,” directed by Anderson Boyd; “Lost Colony” (Dir. Christopher Holmes); and “In the Treetops” (Dir. Matthew Brown). N.C. Documentary Features include: “Curious Worlds:  The Art & Imagination of David Beck” (Dir. Olympia Stone); “Welcome to Leith” (an Official Sundance Selection; Dir. Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker); “Chairman Jones, An Improbable Leader” (Dir. Anna Jones); and the world premiere of “Wilmington On Fire” (Dir. Christopher Everett). Other films that boast N.C. connections include: “Applesauce” (narrative feature by Onur Tukel, Raleigh/Wilmington native); “Ameriglow: Dream Pt. 1” (music video by Ryan Walker); “Calling the Cops on Jesus” (a short directed by Peter Carolla); “Goldyard…Hmmm (clap your heartbeat),” a music video by Justin Mitchener; and “The Honorable Ellie Kinnaird” (short by Martha J. Moore). Other short films and music videos with Carolina ties will also screen at Cucalorus 21. For descriptions and details about each film, visit www.cucalorus.org.                                               

Signature Events: Back by Popular Demand

This year's festival kicks off on Wednesday, November 11, with the ever-popular Dance-a-lorus, a unique partnership between Cucalorus, the Dance Cooperative, and New York-based Dance Films Association. Dance-a-lorus is a communion of dance and film by local dancers and indie filmmakers. The event features excerpts from 13 different choreographers and filmmakers in a variety of genres. While the majority of screenings are intended for adult audiences, this year Cucalorus continues its “Kids-a-lorus” family program on Saturday with two films appropriate for ages 11 and up (“Fiddlesticks” and “Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet”).  On Sunday the festival concludes with a Secret Screening and Buzz Repeat blocks of the weekend's most popular films, followed by the CONNECT Closing Party.

The festival's other signature multi-media programs include: Works-in-Progress (filmmaker lab), Visual/Sound/Walls (a multi-sensory exhibition of 37 music videos) and the David Lynch inspired interactive installation “The Bus to Lumberton.” Also returning to Cucalorus 21 is the 10 x10 Filmmaker Challenge whereby 10 entrepreneurs and 10 filmmakers are introduced and paired to collaborate during the festival to produce a short film for Sunday's closing event.

Inaugural Special Events: Cucalorus CONNECT + Virtual Reality Lounge + PlaceMakers Fair

*Cucalorus CONNECT: The first-ever Cucalorus CONNECT conference will host more than 50 events that celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation across industries, ranging from keynotes with national followings to panels that explore evolving technologies and economic trends. Key presenters include: Galen Buckwalter (founding chief science officer at eHarmony); Chris Heivly (founder of MapQuest and now a managing director of The Startup Factory in Durham), Tim Mather and Greg Avola (co-founders of Untappd, the hottest social media platform for craft beer junkies); Dan Tynan (editor in chief for Yahoo Tech); Joan Siefert Rose (president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development); and lead principals from the crowdfunding sites Kickstarter and Seed&Spark.  

*Virtual Reality Lounge: Cucalorus steps deep into the future of entertainment with its first-ever Virtual Reality Lounge to share the most mind-bending new works in a rapidly growing and emerging field.

*PlaceMakers Fair: On Saturday, November 14, Princess Street will host a PlaceMakers Fair, showcasing regional makers and their inventions with exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment, food and a tall bike jousting showdown. A design charrette for downtown placemaking is also in the works. Events are family friendly and follow the Saturday morning Kidsalorus screening of the heralded animated film "Khalil Gibran's The Prophet," an official selection at Cannes, produced by and starring the voice work of Salma Hayek, along with Liam Neeson.

Screenings and Tickets

Screenings will take place at the following Downtown Wilmington venues: Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts (central Ticketbox & theatre located at 310 Chestnut St.); Jengo's Playhouse (815 Princess St.); City Stage Theatre (21 N. Front St., 5th floor); CFCC Union Station (502 N. Front St.); Ziggy's (208 Market St.); Hell's Kitchen (118 Princess St.), Ironclad Brewery (115 N. 2nd St.), Bourgie Nights (127 Princess St.) and tekMountain (1844 Sir Tyler Dr., near Mayfaire). For tickets, schedules, film descriptions, venue directions and other details, visit www.cucalorus.org.

In case you're asking yourself: “What is a Cucalorus?”…

The Cucalorus Film Festival's unusual name was inspired by a piece of lighting equipment. The dictionary defines 'cucalorus' as“a film set apparatus placed in front of a light source to create a dappled lighting effect on a subject or background.” Of course, in the world of film festivals, Cucalorus is unique. It was established in 1994 as a multi-disciplinary arts organization that supports emerging and innovative creative professionals through its annual film festival, a residency program, a microcinema and an extensive community outreach program. It has since grown into one of the largest film festivals in the South, with more than 260 films that screen each year at venues all over downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. For details on the Cucalorus Film Festival visit www.cucalorus.org.

Wilmington, N.C.: Did you know?

Wilmington, North Carolina—home to the Cucalorus Film Festival and EUE/Screen Gems Studios—is a top location for U.S. film production.  Visitors can experience “Hollywood East” with walking tours of downtown movie locations and self-guided location tours using television FAQ sheets for “Sleepy Hollow,” “Dawson's Creek” and “One Tree Hill.” For links to FAQ Sheets, tours and more film-related information, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/hollywood-east.

City + Beaches: See where the water takes you and discover why Wilmington and its island beaches are popular with visitors and filmmakers. The Cucalorus Film Festival is held annually in November in Wilmington's historic river district, which is located just a few minutes away from three colorful island beaches. For information on lodging and things to see and do, request a Free Official Visitors Guide for Wilmington, N.C.'s historic river district and the beach communities of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, call 1-866-266-9690 or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com. For seasonal specials and featured events, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/season/2015-fall-highlights.   

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